System and method for the unpacking of a printing-paper roll

ABSTRACT

A system and method for fully automatic unpacking of a printing-paper roll is disclosed. The system includes a) a station for automatic removal of end cover packagings from a packed printing-paper roll, b) a station for automatic severing of the circumferential packaging on a printing-paper roll, c) a station for automatic removal of the severed circumferential packaging, and d) a conveying device which moves a packed printing-paper roll automatically into the station for removal of the end cover packagings, automatically moves the printing-paper roll from the station for removal of the end cover packagings into the station for severing the circumferential packaging, automatically moves the printing-paper roll from the station for severing the circumferential packaging into the station for removal of the circumferential packaging, and moves the unpacked printing-paper roll automatically out of the station for removal of the circumferential packaging.

This application claims the priority of German Patent Document No. 10 2004 043 102.7, filed Sep. 7, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for the unpacking of a printing-paper roll. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the unpacking of a printing-paper roll.

A web-shaped printing material which is kept ready in the form of printing-paper rolls is printed on web-fed rotary presses. The printing-paper rolls are stored in the packed state in a paper store and have to be removed from the packaging before they are introduced into a roll changer of the web-fed rotary press, and accordingly unpacked. The procedure during unpacking of the printing-paper rolls is that firstly what are known as the end cover packagings are removed from the end sides of the printing-paper roll, that next what is known as the circumferential packaging is severed, and that subsequently the severed circumferential packaging is removed from the printing-paper roll. The removal of the end cover packagings, the severing of the circumferential packaging and the removal of the circumferential packaging take place in correspondingly adapted stations. Thus, for example, EP 0 592 845 B1 shows a station for the removal of the end cover packagings.

It is already known from the prior art to automate the work sequences during unpacking of a printing-paper roll to a very large extent, for example in the station for the removal of the end cover packagings. However, a fully automated system or method for the unpacking of a printing-paper roll has not previously been disclosed in the prior art. Thus, according to the prior art, the printing-paper roll has to be displaced manually into the abovementioned stations, for example. Furthermore, a manual severing of the circumferential packaging is also required according to the prior art. Accordingly, a large number of manual work steps are required according to the prior art in order to unpack a printing-paper roll. The results of this are, firstly, long unpacking times and that, secondly, the manual unpacking of printing-paper rolls is expensive as a consequence of the use of personnel.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the object of providing a novel system and a novel method for the unpacking of a printing-paper roll.

The system according to the invention for the fully automatic unpacking of a printing-paper roll comprises at least: a) a station for the automatic removal of the end cover packagings from a packed printing-paper roll; b) a station for the automatic severing of the circumferential packaging on a printing-paper roll with removed end cover packagings, the station for severing the circumferential packaging adjoining the station for removing the end cover packaging; c) a station for the automatic removal of the circumferential packaging from a printing-paper roll having a severed circumferential packaging, the station for the removal of the circumferential packaging adjoining the station for the severing of the circumferential packaging; d) a conveying device which moves a packed printing-paper roll automatically into the station for the removal of the end cover packaging, which conveying device automatically moves a printing-paper roll, with the end cover packaging removed therefrom, from the station for the removal of the end cover packaging into the station for the severing of the circumferential packaging, which conveying device automatically moves a printing-paper roll having a severed circumferential packaging from the station for the severing of the circumferential packaging into the station for the removal of the circumferential packaging, and which conveying device, furthermore, moves an unpacked printing-paper roll automatically out of the station for the removal of the circumferential packaging.

In terms of the present invention, a fully automated system for the unpacking of a printing-paper roll is proposed for the first time. In the system according to the invention, the station for the automatic removal of the end cover packagings, the station for the automatic severing of the circumferential packaging, and the station for the automatic removal of the circumferential packaging are connected to one another by a conveying device in such a way that the printing-paper roll can be moved automatically from one station to the next by the conveying device. All the work steps in the stations are carried out in an automated manner and subsequently without the use of personnel.

According to one advantageous development of the present invention, the station for the automatic severing of the circumferential packaging comprises a stationary severing device which is positioned in the region of the conveying device, the circumferential packaging being severed automatically by utilizing the translatory relative movement between the moving printing-paper roll and the severing device. Accordingly, it lies within the scope of the present invention to use the movement, which is required in any case, of the printing-paper roll from the station for the removal of the end cover packagings into the station for the removal of the circumferential packaging for the automatic severing of the circumferential packaging. The results of this are, firstly, particularly simple automated severing of the circumferential packaging and that, secondly, the time is reduced considerably which is required for the unpacking of the printing-paper roll.

According to a further advantageous development of the present invention, the station for the automatic removal of the circumferential packaging is assigned a delivery device for holding and/or temporarily storing circumferential packagings which have been wound up and thus removed from the printing roll. As a result, it is possible to divide the actual removal of the circumferential packaging from the printing-paper roll and the disposal of the circumferential packaging into part sequences which are coordinated with one another in temporal terms, as a result of which the time which is required for the unpacking of a printing-paper roll can again be shortened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred developments of the invention result from the following description. Without being restricted thereto, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in greater detail using the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a system according to the invention for the unpacking of a printing-paper roll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following text, the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a system according to the invention for the fully automated unpacking of a printing-paper roll. The system according to the invention comprises a station 10 for the automatic removal of the end cover packaging from a printing-paper roll, a station 11 for the automatic severing of the circumferential packaging on a printing-paper roll, and a station 12 for the automatic removal of the severed circumferential packaging from the printing-paper roll. A movement direction of the printing-paper roll through the stations 10, 11 and 12 is shown in FIG. 1 by an arrow 13.

In terms of FIG. 1, the stations 10, 11 and 12 are connected to one another by a conveying device 14. As can be gathered from FIG. 1, a packed printing-paper roll 15 can be moved with the aid of the conveying device 14 into the station 10 for the automatic removal of the end cover packaging. In the station 10, the end cover packagings at the two end sides 16 and 17 of the printing-paper roll 15 are then removed automatically. A printing-paper roll with end cover packagings which have been removed from the end sides 16 and 17 is characterized by the reference numeral 15′.

A printing-paper roll 15′ with end cover packagings which have been removed from it can then be moved by the conveying device 14 from the station 10 for the removal of the end cover packagings into the station 11 for the severing of the circumferential packaging. The circumferential packaging is then severed automatically here.

After the automatic severing of the circumferential packaging, the printing-paper roll having a severed circumferential packaging can then be moved automatically by the conveying device 14 into the station 12 for the removal of the circumferential packaging. The circumferential packaging is then removed automatically in the station 12, a printing-paper roll with a removed circumferential packaging being indicated by the reference numeral 15″. The printing-paper roll 15″ with a removed circumferential packaging can then be moved automatically out of the station 12 for the removal of the circumferential packaging, with the aid of the conveying device 14.

In terms of the present invention, it is accordingly proposed to carry out all the work steps within the stations 10, 11 and 12 and the transporting or moving of the printing-paper roll into the individual stations and out of them in an automated manner. As a result, a fully automated system for the unpacking of a printing-paper roll is provided.

The station 10 for the automatic removal of the end cover packagings from a packed printing-paper roll 15 comprises, in the region of both end sides 16 and 17, in each case one cutting device 18 and one holding device 19. For reasons of simpler illustration, the cutting device 18 and the holding device 19 are shown only in the region of the end side 17. For the automatic removal of the end cover packagings, the cutting device 18 and the holding device 19 are moved into a defined relative position with respect to the printing-paper roll in the region of each end side 16 and 17. Here, the holding device 19 is preferably oriented with respect to the printing-paper roll in such a way that the former is positioned in the region of a central sleeve 20 of the printing-paper roll and penetrates the end cover packaging in this region. The cutting device 18 is preferably oriented relative to the printing-paper roll at a radially outer end of the respective end side 16 and 17, and introduced in this relative position into the end cover packaging which is to be removed. With the holding device 19 introduced centrally into the end cover packaging and the cutting device 18 introduced into the end cover packaging, the printing-paper roll is then moved rotationally and thus in a manner which rotates relative to the stationary holding device 19 and the stationary cutting device 18. On account of this relative movement, the cutting device 18 severs the end cover packaging at the radially outer end in the circumferential direction, the holding device 19 holding the severed end cover packaging automatically, after a severing cut has been carried out along the complete circumference of the end cover packaging, and moving the severed end cover packaging out of the region of the station 10. In this way, the end cover packagings can be removed from the printing-paper roll simultaneously in the region of both end sides 16 and 17. It is to be pointed out that the holding devices 19′ are preferably configured as spreadable mandrels and the cutting devices 18 are preferably configured as separating blades.

After both end cover packagings have been removed automatically from the printing-paper roll in the region of the end sides 16 and 17, the printing-paper roll with removed end cover packagings is moved out of the station 10 for the removal of the end cover packagings and moved into the region of the station 11 for the automatic severing of the circumferential packaging which is still situated on the printing-paper roll. A severing device 21 is positioned in the region of the station 11 for the automatic severing of the circumferential packaging, the severing device 21 being positioned in the region of the conveying device 14, namely between two adjacent conveying sections 22 and 23 of the conveying device 14. As can be gathered from FIG. 1, the two conveying sections 22 and 23 are configured as belt conveyors which are guided on deflection rollers 24. Here, the severing device 21 of the station 11 is positioned between two adjacent deflection rollers of the adjacent conveying sections 22 and 23. The severing device 21 of the station 11 is configured as a stationary cutting blade which uses the translatory relative movement of the printing-paper roll during the movement of the latter out of the station 10 to sever the circumferential packaging automatically. During the movement of the printing-paper roll in the direction of the arrow 13, it passes over the severing device 21 of the station 11, the severing device 21 automatically severing the circumferential packaging on the underside of the printing-paper roll in the process by using the translatory relative movement between the printing-paper roll 15 and the stationary severing device 21. Accordingly, the printing-paper roll is moved through the station 11 in a translatory manner in order to sever the circumferential packaging.

After the automated severing of the circumferential packaging in the region of the station 11 by using the relative movement of the printing-paper roll relative to the stationary severing device 21, the printing-paper roll having a severed circumferential packaging passes automatically into the region of the station 12 for the automatic removal of the circumferential packaging. In the region of the station 12, winding devices 25 are positioned on both end sides 16 and 17 of the printing-paper roll, the winding devices 25 gripping the severed circumferential packaging at one free end in the region of the end sides 16 and 17 and then winding it up automatically. For the automatic winding-up, the printing-paper roll is moved rotationally with respect to the stationary winding devices 25, the winding devices 25 also rotating in order in this way to wind up the circumferential packaging. After the circumferential packaging has been wound up and thus removed from the printing-paper roll, the wound-up circumferential packaging is automatically moved by the winding devices 25 into the region of a delivery device 26 which is assigned to the station 12. In the region of the delivery device 26, wound circumferential packagings 27 are deposited or stored temporarily. This means that the winding devices 25 rapidly pass on the circumferential packaging which has been removed from the printing-paper roll and are thus available within a very short time for winding a new circumferential packaging from a printing-paper roll which is subsequently to be unpacked.

It lies within the scope of the present invention to use the delivery device 26 not only for the temporary storage of wound-up circumferential packagings 27, but rather also to compress the wound circumferential packagings 27 in the region of the delivery device 26 and to hold them together in the compressed state. For this reason, devices (not shown) for the compression of wound-up circumferential packagings and devices (not shown) for holding wound-up and compressed circumferential packagings together are integrated into the delivery device 26.

The devices for compressing are preferably configured as pressing devices or squeezing devices. The devices for holding together compressed circumferential packagings are preferably configured as needle devices. By needle punching compressed circumferential packagings, they are fixed in the compressed position and a subsequent expansion in volume terms of compressed circumferential packagings is avoided. In this way, the wound-together circumferential packagings 27 can be stored temporarily in the delivery device 26 in a space-saving manner. Proceeding from the delivery device 26, the circumferential packagings can then be fed to a further disposal means.

The present invention makes fully automated unpacking of printing-paper rolls possible. The individual stations and the work steps in the stations are coordinated with one another in such a way that a printing-paper roll can be unpacked in a fully automated manner within a very short time. The result is high efficiency when printing-paper rolls are unpacked.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Station -   11 Station -   12 Station -   13 Direction of movement -   14 Conveying device -   15, 15′, 15″ Printing-paper roll -   16 End side -   17 End side -   18 Cutting device -   19 Holding device -   20 Sleeve -   21 Severing device -   22 Conveying section -   23 Conveying section -   24 Deflection roller -   25 Winding device -   26 Delivery device -   27 Circumferential packaging

The foregoing disclosure has-been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. A system for the fully automatic unpacking of a printing-paper roll, comprising: a) a station for automatic removal of an end cover packaging from a packed printing-paper roll; b) a station for automatic severing of a circumferential packaging on the printing-paper roll with removed end cover packaging, the station for severing the circumferential packaging adjoining the station for removing the end cover packaging; c) a station for automatic removal of the circumferential packaging from the printing-paper roll having severed circumferential packaging, the station for removal of the circumferential packaging adjoining the station for severing the circumferential packaging; and d) a conveying device which moves the packed printing-paper roll automatically into the station for removal of the end cover packaging, which conveying device automatically moves the printing-paper roll, with the end cover packaging removed therefrom, from the station for removal of the end cover packaging into the station for severing the circumferential packaging, which conveying device automatically moves the printing-paper roll having severed circumferential packaging from the station for severing the circumferential packaging into the station for removal of the circumferential packaging, and which conveying device, furthermore, moves an unpacked printing-paper roll automatically out of the station for removal of the circumferential packaging.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the station for automatic removal of the end cover packaging has at least one cutting device for removing the end cover packaging and at least one holding device for holding a removed end cover packaging.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the station for automatic removal of the end cover packaging has two cutting devices and two holding devices for simultaneous removal of two end cover packagings on the packed printing-paper roll.
 4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the cutting device is configured as a stationary separating blade and the holding device is configured as a spreadable mandrel, wherein the separating blade is introduced into the end cover packaging at a predefined relative position for the removal of the end cover packaging on a corresponding end side of a packed end cover packaging, and wherein the packed printing-paper roll is rotated with respect to the stationary separating blade while the predefined relative position is maintained, in order to remove the end cover packaging.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the station for automatic severing of the circumferential packaging comprises a stationary severing device which is positioned in a region of the conveying device and severs the circumferential packaging automatically by utilizing a translatory relative movement between a moving printing-paper roll and the stationary severing device.
 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the severing device is positioned in the region of the conveying device in such a way that a translatorily moving printing-paper roll passes over the stationary severing device, and the severing device in the process automatically severs the circumferential packaging.
 7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the severing device is positioned between two adjacent conveying sections of the conveying device.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the station for automatic removal of the circumferential packaging has two winding devices for the automatic winding of a severed circumferential packaging.
 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein, in order to wind the severed circumferential packaging, the printing-paper roll is rotated with respect to the winding devices, wherein the winding devices are stationary relative to the printing-paper roll and wherein the winding devices rotate.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the station for automatic removal of the circumferential packaging is assigned a delivery device for holding and/or temporarily storing a wound-up circumferential packaging.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the delivery device has devices for compressing the wound-up circumferential packaging and/or devices for holding together a wound-up and compressed circumferential packaging.
 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the devices for compressing are configured as a pressing device and the devices for holding together are configured as a needle device.
 13. A method for the fully automatic unpacking of a printing-paper roll, comprising the steps of: a) automatically moving a packed printing-paper roll by a conveying device into a station for removal of an end cover packaging, wherein the end cover packaging is removed automatically from the packed printing-paper roll in the station for removal of the end cover packaging; b) subsequently moving the printing-paper roll with the end cover packaging removed therefrom automatically from the station for removal of the end cover packaging into a station for severing a circumferential packaging, wherein the circumferential packaging is severed automatically in the station for severing the circumferential packaging; c) moving automatically the printing-paper roll with the severed circumferential packaging by the conveying device from the station for severing the circumferential packaging into a station for removal of the circumferential packaging, wherein the circumferential packaging is removed automatically in the station for removal of the circumferential packaging; and d) subsequently moving an unpacked printing-paper roll by the conveying device out of the station for removal of the circumferential packaging.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, in step a), a stationary cutting device is moved to a corresponding end side of the packed printing-paper roll and introduced into the end cover packaging at a predefined relative position, in order to remove the end cover packaging, wherein the packed printing-paper roll is rotated with respect to the stationary cutting device while the relative position is maintained, in order to remove the end cover packaging.
 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein, in step b), the printing-paper roll is moved translatorily relative to a stationary severing device of the station in order to sever the circumferential packaging, and wherein the circumferential packaging is severed automatically by utilizing a translatory relative movement between the printing-paper roll and the stationary severing device.
 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein, in step c), the severed circumferential packaging is wound up and removed by rotating the printing-paper roll with respect to winding devices, wherein the winding devices are stationary relative to the printing-paper roll and wherein the winding devices rotate.
 17. A system for the automatic unpacking of a printing-paper roll, comprising: a packaging removal apparatus, including: a) an end cover packaging removal station; b) a circumferential packaging severing station located at a downstream position in a work flow direction from the end cover packaging removal station; and c) a circumferential packaging removal station located at a downstream position in the work flow direction from the circumferential packaging severing station; and a conveying device disposed adjacent to the packaging removal apparatus.
 18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the circumferential packaging removal station includes a severed circumferential packaging storage device.
 19. A method for unpacking a printing-paper roll, comprising the steps of: a) moving the printing-paper roll into an end cover packaging removal station by a conveying device; b) automatically removing an end cover packaging from the printing-paper roll by the end cover packaging removal station; c) moving the printing-paper roll by the conveying device from the end cover packaging removal station into a circumferential packaging severing station; d) automatically severing a circumferential packaging from the printing-paper roll by the circumferential packaging severing station; e) moving the printing-paper roll by the conveying device from the circumferential packaging severing station into a circumferential packaging removal station; and f) automatically removing the severed circumferential packaging from the printing-paper roll by the circumferential packaging removal station.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of automatically removing the severed circumferential packaging from the printing-paper roll includes the step of winding up the severed circumferential packaging. 